AirPods Pro Not Working? Here Are Some Tips and Tricks
Got your hands on a pair of Apple AirPods Pro headphones, but find that they aren’t meeting the Apple mantra of it just works? No matter the issue, we got you covered with our comprehensive breakdown of possible fixes and tips to get your pods back to what they are supposed to do!
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How to reset AirPods Pro
Before you try any other methods of fixing your AirPods Pro, you should attempt to reset them. This process is simple and straight forward, as it forces the AirPods to forget any paired devices.
Here is how to reset the AirPods Pro:
- Place both AirPods buds in the charging case
- Ensure that the charging case has some battery remaining
- Locate the small button on the back of the case
- Press and hold the button for at least 15 seconds
While you are pressing the button, watch the charging light on the front of the case. The light will flash white and then amber after a few seconds. Once the light turns amber, the AirPods Pro have been reset.
Then, just open the case, unlock your iPhone and pair the two products together just like you did on launch day. It’s important to note that the AirPods Pro will unpair themselves from any of your iCloud-connected devices, in addition to the iPhone.
Cannot set up AirPods Pro with your iPhone
As this is a new product, there may be some complications with your AirPods Pro not working even when trying to set up with your iPhone. The first step you need to take is to ensure that your iPhone or iPad is updated to iOS 13.2.
If you are seeing a red exclamation mark when trying to set up your new AirPods Pro, it might be related to a bug that is causing glitches when setting things up. Please check the article below to see if it helps.
This version of iOS was just released a few days ago and is required in order for the AirPods Pro to properly connect. Here’s how you can check to see what version of iOS you are running:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Select General
- Tap About
From this panel, you will see the name of your iPhone at the top, and right below it will be the software version. If you are running an earlier release, you will need to properly update the software by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Update AirPods Pro Firmware
After updating your iPhone to iOS 13.2, there are some reports stating that the Pro still won’t pair properly. This is because Apple shipped an older firmware version that needs to be updated. Some users have reported seeing version 2B576, when the most current release is 2B584.
Not only does this new firmware version fix any potential pairing issues, but it also fixes possible charging problems. Here’s how to check your firmware version:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
- Select General
- Tap About
- Scroll down and select your AirPods Pro
This panel will display different bits of information including the serial number, and firmware version. If you are not running the latest 2B584, updating the firmware is easy-ish. Since you cannot force your iPhone to update the firmware for the AirPods, here’s a workaround.
- Ensure that your AirPods are paired and connected to your iPhone
- Listen to music for up to one minute
- Place the AirPods Pro back into the charging case and charge them for at least 30 minutes
Once you have finished charging them, you can head back into the About panel and see if the firmware automatically updated. This should be the case, and you should no longer have any more concerns.
Change the force sensor options
The AirPods Pro is really the “Swiss Army Knife” of headphones, and Apple has included many customizable features. With these new earbuds, you are provided with Active Noise Cancellation, along with Transparency which makes it easy to hear external sounds.
Apple has added a few customization settings for those who want to add or remove the ANC or Transparency features.
Here’s how to do so:
- With your AirPods connected, open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Tap Bluetooth
- Hit the blue “i” next to the name of your AirPods
- Tap either Left or Right to reveal more options
From here, you can choose what options are available for each independent AirPod, versus having settings defaulted for both. You can even dedicate a specific AirPod to using the Force Sensor for activating Siri, if “Hey Siri” isn’t your thing.
AirPod pro tap functions not working?
On the AirPods Pro models, Apple changed from a tap system to a squeeze (press and hold) system. 
So if you are tapping your force sensor as you did on earlier AirPod models, try squeezing and see if that works for you!
- Squeeze once to play or pause music or when a call is incoming to answer the call
- Press it twice to skip forward on a track
- Squeeze three times to skip back on a track
- Press and hold that squeeze to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode
If your AirPods Pro do not respond to your squeezing, contact Apple Support or set-up an appointment to get them checked out!
How to enable Noise Cancellation with just One AirPod
Out of the box, noise cancellation is only available when both AirPods are in your ears. However, there’s a hidden feature, found under the Accessibility settings, that allows you to enable ANC with just one AirPod.
Here’s how to access that and turn it on:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Scroll down and select Accessibility
- Scroll down and tap AirPods
- At the bottom, toggle Noise Cancellation with One AirPod to the On position
- Restart
Once completed, you will be able to get noise cancellation with just one AirPod, versus needing to have both of them inserted. This is a fantastic little feature if you enjoy the better sound quality offered when ANC is enabled.
Use Shortcuts to set the ‘Noise Control Mode’
If there was some type of Shortcuts integration, it would only make sense for Federico Viticci to find it. The myth, man, and legend spotted a new Shortcut that allows you to set the Noise Control Mode without hopping into Control Center.
Here’s how you can create the Shortcut for yourself:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone
- Tap the “+” button in the top right-hand corner
- Using search, type AirPods into the search-box
- Tap Set Noise Control Mode
- From the main panel, tap Route within the shortcut and select your AirPods Pro
- Then, tap on Noise Control Mode
From here, you can select what you want to the Shortcut to do, and here are the options:
- Off
- Noise Cancellation
- Transparency
- Ask Each Time
Regardless of whether you are a regular Shortcuts user, or a novice, this feature can come in super handy. It removes the need to swipe down from the top right to access Control Center and instead can be run directly from the Shortcuts widget, or your home screen.
Slow down gesture interaction
The AirPods Pro are designed with speed and flexibility in mind, but there are instances where that “speed” may be too fast. Luckily, Apple has included some Accessibility options to adjust the speed when using the gestures.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone
- Scroll down and select Accessibility
- Scroll down and tap AirPods
From here, you are presented with three different categories: Press Speed, Press and Hold Duration, and Noise Control. We want to focus on the former two categories for Speed and Hold Duration.
Under Press Speed this will adjust the speed required to press two or three times on the stem of your AirPod. The Default is already enabled, with there also being options for Slow and Slowest. As for Press and Hold Duration, this adjusts the duration required to press and hold the stem of your AirPods to invoke different actions. Other than Default, you can adjust the settings to Short or Shorter.
Setting up AirPods Pro Shortcuts to switch between modes
You can in fact set up new shortcuts that will help you switch easily between the ANC mode and the transparency mode when using your AirPods Pro.
Are Calls Dropping?
We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of an important call, and suddenly, your AirPods Pro decide to drop the call. Frustrating, right? But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you troubleshoot and resolve this issue:
Check Your Connection:
-
Ensure your AirPods Pro are connected to your device. Head to the Bluetooth settings on your device and make sure your AirPods Pro are listed and connected.
-
If they’re not connected, try pairing them again.
Update Your Device:
-
Sometimes, software glitches can cause connectivity issues. Ensure your iPhone or the device you’re using is updated to the latest version. Head to Settings > General > Software Update and check for any available updates.
Check for Physical Damage:
Avoid Interference:
Change Microphones:
- Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Locate your AirPods from the list under My Devices.
- Tap the i button in the right side.
- Scroll down and tap Microphone.
-
Select one of the following:
- Automatically Switch AirPods
- Always Left AirPod
- Always Right AirPod
- Tap the < Back button in the top left corner to save your changes.
By default, your AirPods will have the Automatically Switch AirPods option enabled. In that case, select one of the other options from the list, and then see if the call still drops.
AirPods Won’t Connect to Mac
It can really be annoying when you’re trying to sit down and watch a movie on your Mac, or trying to get some work done and your AirPods just won’t connect. Thankfully, there’s a way to try and get things back in working order without just toggling Bluetooth on and off. The following method actually “kills” the Bluetooth background processes, which means that any of your Bluetooth peripherals will be temporarily disconnected.
- Open the Terminal app on your Mac.
-
Type the following command:
- sudo pkill blued
- Hit the Enter key.
- When prompted, enter your admin password.
- Press the Enter key again.
- Wait a few moments.
After a few moments, you’ll be able to try and reconnect your AirPods to your Mac. However, if this doesn’t work, there’s another command that you can enter.
- Open the Terminal app on your Mac.
-
Type the following command:
- sudo pkill bluetoothd
- Hit the Enter key.
- When prompted, enter your admin password.
- Press the Enter key again.
- Wait a few moments.
In some cases, you might want to try and restart your Mac after entering the command, but still, wait a few moments so that the command can be run by your Mac.
AirPods Are Connected, But Nothing Is Playing
From time to time, you might find that you connect your AirPods to listen to some music, but there isn’t any audio coming out of your earbuds. This can be a really frustrating situation, but not all hope is lost.
- Open an app such as Apple Music or YouTube and start playing something with audio.
- Double-check that the volume is turned up.
- If that’s the case, swipe down from the top right corner to open the Control Center.
- Tap the icon that appears in the corner of the audio playback box.
- Select your AirPods from the list of devices.
In the event that you are still having problems, put your AirPods back in the charging case, then restart your iPhone. After your iPhone is finished restarting, then go through the steps above again so you can make sure that your music is playing through your AirPods.
Sound Is Louder on One AirPod Compared to the Other
We’ve all been there: you’re jamming out to your favorite tune or diving deep into a podcast episode, and suddenly you notice something’s off. The sound seems louder in one AirPod than the other. Before you start panicking and thinking about buying a new pair, let’s dive into why this might be happening and how you can potentially fix it.
- Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
- Scroll down again until you reach the Hearing section.
- Tap Audio/Visual.
- Scroll down until you see the Balance section.
- Make sure the dial is set to the middle with the numbers reading 0.00.
- Tap the < Accessibility button in the top left corner to save your changes.
In the world of tech, even the smallest issues can sometimes throw us off our groove, especially when it comes to our beloved audio experiences. If you ever find that one AirPod is playing louder than the other, remember that it’s often a fixable issue. With the right troubleshooting steps and a bit of patience, you can get back to enjoying your music, podcasts, or calls with balanced sound in no time. And if all else fails, remember that Apple Support is just a call or click away.
Make Sure You Have The Best Fit
So, you’ve got your shiny new AirPods, and you’re ready to dive into some tunes. But wait, are you sure you’re getting the best sound experience? Enter the Ear Tip Fit Test. This nifty feature ensures you’re using the right ear tip size for optimal sound and comfort. Let’s break down how to give it a whirl.
- Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Locate your AirPods from the list of devices.
- Tap the i (More Info) button on the right side of the window.
- Scroll down and tap the Ear Tip Fit Test button.
- When prompted, tap the Continue button.
- Tap the Play button on the Ear Tip Fit Test page.
- Follow the on-screen steps to complete the Ear Tip Fit Test.
And there you have it! With the Ear Tip Fit Test, you’re not just listening; you’re experiencing sound the way it’s meant to be. It’s a small step, but trust me, your ears will thank you. So, the next time you pop in those AirPods, you’ll know they’re tailored just for you.
Sound Still Isn’t Great? Try Turning Off Headphone Safety
While the Headphone Safety feature is designed to protect our ears from potential harm due to high volumes, sometimes it can feel a tad restrictive, especially if you know your listening habits well. If you’re looking to take the reins and turn off this feature, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive into the steps to give you full control over your volume levels.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Sounds & Haptics.
- At the top of the page, under Headphone Audio, tap the Headphone Safety button.
- Tap the toggle next to Reduce Loud Sounds to the Off position.
- In the top left corner, tap < Back to save your changes.
With “Headphone Safety” now off, you’ve got the freedom to crank up those jams as you see fit. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility—always be mindful of your hearing health. But for those moments when you just need that extra volume boost, you’re all set.
Are my AirPods Pro still wirelessly charging?
For some strange reason, Apple decided to give folks a bit of a scare when wirelessly charging the AirPods Pro. When you set the charging case on a wireless charging pad, you can see the green or amber light flash and then it disappears.
This does not mean that the charging has stopped, merely seconds after placing the case on the pad. Instead, Apple opted to have the lights fade out, leaving you to figure out on your own whether it’s still charging.
There is a little trick that you can do in order to see whether your AirPods Pro are still charging. When the case is placed on a charging pad, double tap on the light on the front of the case. The light will flash either Amber or Green, letting you know whether it’s finished charging or if it needs more time.
Can you add AppleCare+ after purchasing?
A big frustration with Apple products was the fact that you had to purchase AppleCare+ at the same time as your device. The company has finally relaxed on those rules and you can finally purchase AppleCare+ after you purchase a device.
There is a bit of a “catch” if you want to call it that, as you only have a certain amount of time before you can no longer buy AppleCare+. As with other Apple products, the AirPods Pro can have AppleCare+ coverage added after the fact, provided that you sign up for it within 60 days from the date of the purchase.
With AppleCare+, the fee for incidents is just $29 and covers just about anything that could potentially happen. In comparison, if you lost an AirPod or needed to replace the wireless charging case, the cost would be $89 for either one.
For just $29, you get two years of AppleCare+ coverage with two “accidental” incidents at the $29 rate. If you lose your AirPod or the case, you will be forced to pay the $89 warranty fee, regardless of whether you own AppleCare+ or not.
Want to get the best sound? Learn more tips for AirPods Pro today with our top AirPods Pro video tips!
Conclusion
We are still testing out our AirPods Pro and are learning more and more about what you can do with them. Let us know if you were a Day One adopter and if you have already replaced either the AirPods or AirPods 2 with these.
If you continue running into issues, sound off in the comments and we’ll be more than happy to help! In the meantime, share some of your favorite current songs that sound great on AirPods Pro.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
